THE CALL by Tommy Deas

Saturday

Sep 6, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Each week, Executive Sports Editor Tommy Deas breaks down the match-up between Alabama and its opponent. Here's his take on this week's game against Tulane.

OffenseAdvantage: AlabamaThe Jim McElwain Era began with a bang last weekend. Alabama’s new offensive coordinator unveiled a smashmouth attack, with Clemson providing the mouth. Running backs Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram both almost reached the 100-yard mark behind a physical offensive line, and quarterback John Parker Wilson was a model of efficiency. Matt Forte averaged 177 rushing yards per game for Tulane last season, but now he’s a Chicago Bear. Expect the Green Wave to try to run and milk the clock with featured back Andre Anderson.

DefenseAdvantage: AlabamaWhat do you get when you add a year’s worth of experience in Nick Saban’s system to a beast of a nose tackle? A very scare defense. Monster Terrence Cody (aka Mongo) clogged up running lanes and swallowed up Clemson’s offensive line to free up his teammates. As Cody continues to dominate, look for highlight-reel plays in the near future from Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson. End Reggie Scott had nine tackles for loss last year to lead Tulane, but the Green Wave allowed a lot of points to the better teams on its schedule.

Special TeamsAdvantage: AlabamaNo doubt Nick Saban was showing his confidence in kicker Leigh Tiffin by allowing him to attempt a 54-yard field goal in the season opener, and Tiffin made it. Tiffin just missed another 50-plus attempt, but the Tide’s kicking game looks sound. Javier Arenas is still an explosive return specialist, and Julio Jones looks like a breakaway threat on kickoff returns. Tulane placekicker Ross Thevenot made 72 percent of his field goal attempts last year, with a long of 48 yards, but Darren deRochemont averaged just 38.7 yards as a punter.

CoachingAdvantage: AlabamaTulane got a head coach who’s been in the big time when it hired Bob Toledo before last season. Alabama fans will remember him as the coach of the UCLA teams that twice defeated the Crimson Tide earlier this decade. Toledo has a tough job in building a program that was reduced to rubble by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Alabama coach Nick Saban gave the Tide it’s first major out-of-conference, regular-season win in recent memory last weekend. The entire Tide staff seems to have a handle on what it wants to accomplish and how to do it.

IntagiblesAdvantage: AlabamaTulane might have gotten the edge in this category if it wasn’t for Hurricane Gustav. The Green Wave is catching Alabama at a good time, with the Crimson Tide basking in the glow of its victory over Clemson. Plus, Tulane gets the scouting advantage of seeing Alabama in action while sitting idle last week, making it more difficult for the Tide to guess what its opponent will do. Playing at home for the first time will ensure that UA’s spirits are high, but the killing blow is that Tulane had to relocate to Birmingham to practice because of the storm.

Prediction: Alabama 40, Tulane 10As good as Alabama looked against Clemson, it would be easy to automatically assume that the Tide belongs on a tier with the elite teams in the nation. That would be getting ahead of the game, something Nick Saban wants to avoid. Expect Alabama to win, but without being flashy.